bdf2tikz

Program that reads Quartus Schematic files (.bdf extension) and emits LaTeX code that uses TikZ to create a graphic resembling the passed schematic. This graphic can then be embedded in documents.

The program can generate one of:

• LaTeX source for a minimal complete document (using the standalone class).
• LaTeX code for the graphic (i.e. to be \input into a document).
• TikZ instructions (i.e. to be \input inside a tikzpicture environment).

The third one allows for maximum control, you can supply your own TikZ styles for parts of the schematic. The second and first ones will use a template with predefined TikZ styles, which can be seen at template.tex.

In the first case, this will all be wrapped inside a standalone document with a second template that can be seen at document.tex.

Main features:

• Scale and other conversion parameters can be tuned via command line options.
• Support for BDF versions 1.3 and 1.4 (more may be supported but have to be checked and added to the whitelist first).
• Also supports BSF versions 1.1 (which are actually schematics with only one symbol).
• Symbols (optional substitution with TikZ native logic gates).
• Node / bus connectors, with / without label, and junctions.
• Input / output pins with label (with manual drawing).
• All graphic elements supported (line, arc, rectangle, circle).
• Ability to infer (and typeset) type width of each connector, including port lines inside symbols.
• Consecutive connectors (segments) will be drawn as a single path in TikZ, providing correct typesetting.
• Optionally, each run can be "tagged" with its width.
• Port lines can have optional arrows if they are inputs.
• Connectors can have optional arrows indicating output value.
• Optional bounds rendering for pins and / or symbols.
• Anchors can be intelligently selected for line labels and port names.
• Text comments supported.
• Rotated and / or mirrored symbols or pins supported.
• Ability to aggressively "snap" port names to their rectangle.

Unsupported features:

• Pin location annotations not rendered.
• Symbol instance names not rendered.
• Conduit lines currently treated like node / bus lines.
• Bidirectional pins currently not supported.
• Graphic elements directly on the schematic (other than text) not rendered.
• Font, font sizes and line widths currently ignored (taken from style).
• Non-default colors currently unparseable (schematic will be rejected).

Install

This program needs the pyparsing module to be available. Install with:

pip install pyparsing

However, you need a LaTeX distribution installed in order to compile the resulting code into a PDF. The code only has dependencies with TikZ and its circuits libraries. (For advanced users: you can avoid the circuits library dependency if you disable native symbols and provide your own contact node style.)

The template also depends on the amsmath package and the arrows.meta TikZ library.

Usage

python main.py <BDF file> out.tex

Note that main.py can also be used as a module for programmatic rendering. (Option parsing is still pending.)